Aquaplane

ABSTRACT

An aquaplane including a pair of inflatable members, a connection assembly and a control assembly is provided. Each of the inflatable members has a leading end, a foot fixing portion and a back end, wherein the foot fixing portion is located between the leading end and the back end. The connection assembly is connected between the leading ends of the inflatable members, and the control assembly is disposed on the pair of inflatable members, and is located adjacent to the foot fixing portions. A user is capable of treading on the foot fixing portions of the aquaplane to drive the back ends of the two inflatable members to repeatedly close to each other and separate from each other, so as to drive the aquaplane to move forward on water.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of China application serial no. 201220504529.3, filed on Sep. 28, 2012. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

The invention relates to an aquaplane. Particularly, the invention relates to an aquaplane having both sport and entertainment effects.

2. Related Art

Commonly used water entertainment products include surfboards, floating boards, swim rings and inflatable boats, etc. When a user uses the water entertainment products, for example, the surfboard, the floating board and the swim ring, the user can move forward in the water when the user is driven by waves, artificial waves or when the user swims. Since the commonly used inflatable boat is equipped with a power source such as a motor, it can drive the user to move forward on the water.

SUMMARY

The invention is directed to an aquaplane.

The invention provides an aquaplane including a pair of inflatable members, a connection assembly and a control assembly. Each of the inflatable members has a leading end, a foot fixing portion and a back end, where the foot fixing portion is located between the leading end and the back end. The connection assembly is connected between the leading ends of the inflatable members, and the control assembly is disposed on the pair of inflatable members is located adjacent to the foot fixing portions.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the inflatable members has a long strip shape, the leading end of each of the inflatable members has a ¼ circular arc shape, and the back end of each of the inflatable members has a semicircular arc shape.

In an embodiment of the invention, each of the inflatable members has a top surface, and the foot fixing portion sinks in the top surface.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection assembly is a combination of retaining rings and a bolt.

In an embodiment of the invention, the control assembly is a control rack, where the control rack has a grip rod and a connection rod. The grip rod and the connection rod are connected in perpendicular, and one end of the connection rod that is not connected to the grip rod is inserted into the retaining rings to make the connection rod serving as the bolt. Moreover, the aquaplane further includes a rudder connected to the connection rod, and the connection rod is sleeved by a fixing rod.

In an embodiment of the invention, the connection assembly is a combination of retaining rings and a rope.

In an embodiment of the invention, the control assembly includes a pair of fixed pulleys and an assisting rope, wherein the fixed pulleys are respectively disposed on the inflatable members while each of the inflatable members is provided with one of the fixed pulleys, and the assisting rope penetrates through the fixed pulleys, and one end of the assisting rope is fixed on one of the inflatable members adjacent to the foot fixing portion, and the other end of the assisting rope is fixed on the other one of the inflatable members adjacent to the foot fixing portion.

In an embodiment of the invention, the aquaplane further includes a pair of foot fixing pipes respectively disposed on the inflatable members while each of the inflatable members is provided with one of the foot fixing pipes and located on the foot fixing portions. Moreover, the aquaplane further includes a pair of non-slip pads respectively disposed on each of the inflatable members, and the non-slip pads are located on the foot fixing portions and adjacent to the foot fixing pipes.

In an embodiment of the invention, the aquaplane further includes a pair of soft fins respectively disposed on the back end of each of the inflatable members.

According to the above descriptions, the user can tread on the foot fixing portions of the aquaplane of the present invention, and makes the back ends of the two inflatable members to repeatedly close to each other and separate from each other to generate a forward momentum, so as to push the aquaplane to move forward on the water.

In order to make the aforementioned and other features and advantages of the invention comprehensible, several exemplary embodiments accompanied with figures are described in detail below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification. The drawings illustrate embodiments of the invention and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an aquaplane of a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 1B is a schematic diagram of another implementation of a connection assembly.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic diagrams illustrating a process that a user operates the aquaplane of the present embodiment to move forward in water.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an aquaplane viewing from another view angle.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of another implementation of foot fixing portions.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an aquaplane according to a second embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DISCLOSED EMBODIMENTS

Present water entertainment products generally gain a forward momentum in the water through a swim propelling of the user or by installing a power source thereon (the user is unnecessary to exert a force). The invention provides an aquaplane having an operation method different to that of the conventional technique, which is described in detail below.

It should be noticed that descriptions that have directionality and relativity such as “inside”, “outside”, “above”, “below”, “left”, “right”, “clockwise” and “anticlockwise”, etc. are for the purpose of describing directions and positions of the components in the figures only and are not intended to be limiting of the invention.

First Embodiment

FIG. 1A is a schematic diagram of an aquaplane of the first embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1A, the aquaplane 100 including a pair of inflatable members 110, a connection assembly 120 and a control assembly 130. Each of the inflatable members 110 has a leading end 112, a foot fixing portion 114 and a back end 116, wherein the foot fixing portion 114 is located between the leading end 112 and the back end 116. The connection assembly 120 is connected between the leading ends 112 of the inflatable members 110, and the control assembly 130 is disposed on the pair of inflatable members 110, and is adjacent to the foot fixing portions 114.

The inflatable members 110 can be made of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or PVC wrapped with a cloth cover, and the inflatable member 110 approximately has a long strip shape. The lengths of two opposite sides of the inflatable member 110 are not the same, wherein the adjacent sides of the two inflatable members 110 are longer while the far away sides of the two inflatable members 110 are shorter, such that the leading end 112 of each of the inflatable members 110 is not a flat rectangle, but is a ¼ circular arc with a protruding front end. The back end 116 of each of the inflatable members 110 has a semicircular arc shape.

Moreover, the connection assembly 120 used for connecting the leading ends 112 of the two inflatable members 110 is a combination of retaining rings 122 and a bolt 124, wherein each of the leading ends 112 of the inflatable members 110 is configured with one retaining ring 122, and the two retaining rings 122 are overlapped to each other, and the bolt 124 is inserted into the retaining rings 122. In another embodiment, a connection assembly 120 a can also be a combination of the retaining rings 122 and a rope 124 a, wherein the rope 124 a is connected between two retaining rings 122, as that shown in FIG. 1B. It should be noticed that the closer the two leading ends of the inflatable members 110 are, the better operation effect the user has, which is described in detail along with descriptions of the user's operations.

Referring to FIG. 1A, the control assembly 130 includes a pair of fixed pulleys 132 and an assisting rope 134, wherein the fixed pulleys 132 are respectively disposed on the inflatable members 110 while each of the inflatable members 110 is provided with one of the fixed pulleys 132 thereon, and the assisting rope 134 penetrates through the two fixed pulleys 132, and two ends of the assisting rope 134 are respectively fixed on the inflatable members 110 adjacent to the foot fixing portions 114. In detail, one end of the assisting rope 134 is fixed on one of the inflatable members 110, and the other end of the assisting rope 134 is fixed on the other one of the inflatable members 110. The aforementioned respective configuration or respective connection all refer to a situation that one device is configured or connected to another device in a one-to-one manner, or in a one-to-many or many-to-one manner, which is described in detail below.

Moreover, the aquaplane 100 further includes a pair of foot fixing pipes 140, and the foot fixing pipes 140 are located on the foot fixing portions 114. Moreover, the aquaplane 100 may further include a pair of non-slip pads 150 respectively disposed on the inflatable members 110, and the non-slip pads 150 are located on the foot fixing portions 114 and located adjacent to the foot fixing pipes 140. The foot fixing pipes 140 are used to fix user's feet when the user's feet tread on the foot fixing portions 114 of the inflatable members 110, and the non-slip pads 150 prevent the user's feet from sliding relative to the inflatable members 110, such that the user can stably stand on the inflatable members 110.

When the user uses the aquaplane 100 of the present embodiment on the water, the user respectively steps the feet on the foot fixing portions 114 of the inflatable members 110 with assistance of others or other ancillary items, and fastens the foot fixing pipes 140 on insteps to prevent the feet from sliding towards the leading ends 112 on the inflatable members 110. Meanwhile, the non-slip pads 150 are used to effectively prevent the feet from sliding relative to the inflatable members 110.

Then, the user holds the assisting rope 134 of the control module 130 in hands, and controls the back ends 116 of the two inflatable members 110 to open and close relative to each other through opening and closing of the two legs relative to each other. The user can release the assisting rope 134 downwards or tighten the assisting rope 134 upwards to assist the opening and closing of the back ends 116 of the two inflatable members 110.

FIGS. 2A-2C are schematic diagrams illustrating a process that the user operates the aquaplane 100 of the present embodiment to move forward in water. In detail, when the back ends 116 of the two inflatable members 110 are closed to each other, as shown in FIG. 2A, the user opens the two legs and releases the assisting rope 134 held in hands to depart the back ends 116 of the inflatable members 110 from each other, as that shown in FIG. 2B. Then, the user again closes the two legs relative to each other and meanwhile tightens the assisting rope 134, such that the back ends 116 of the inflatable members 110 are closed to each other. As the back ends 116 of the two inflatable members 110 are closed to each other, the water between the two inflatable members 110 is extruded from the back ends 116 of the inflatable members 110, so as to produce a momentum that drives the aquaplane 100 to move forward, as that shown in FIG. 2C. By repeating the above actions, the aquaplane 100 can be driven to continually move forward on the water.

It should be noticed that based on the shape design of the ¼ circular arc of the leading end 112, when the users uses the aquaplane 100 on the water, the circular arc leading end 112 with the protruding front end is easy to break the surface of the water, such that the water can flow through the inflatable members 110 along profiles of the inflatable members 110, which avails the aquaplane 100 to move forward. Compared to the leading end 112, a shape of the back end 116 of the inflatable member 110 has no special design, though those skilled in the art can suitably modify the shape of the back end 116 of the inflatable member 110 to enhance efficiency thereof.

Moreover, when the back ends 116 of the inflatable members 110 are closed to each other to squeeze the water between the inflatable members 110, the closer the leading ends 112 of the two inflatable members 110 is, the harder the squeezed water flows out from the leading ends 112 of the inflatable members 110, and the better effect the aquaplane 100 moves forward.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an aquaplane viewing from another viewing angle. Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 3, the aquaplane 100 further includes a pair of soft fins 160, which can be respectively disposed at the back ends 116 of the inflatable members 110 through fixing racks 162. The soft fins 160 are used to enhance the capability of propelling water, which strengthens a forward thrust force of the aquaplane 100.

In another possible implementation, the foot fixing portions 114 a can sink in grooves of top surfaces 110 a of the inflatable members 110, and the user's feet tread in the grooves, as that shown in FIG. 4.

Second Embodiment

The second embodiment is similar to the first embodiment, wherein the same or like reference numerals refer to the same or like elements throughout, and the same parts are not repeated, and only differences therebetween are described below.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an aquaplane according to the second embodiment of the invention. Referring to FIG. 5, a difference between the present embodiment and the first embodiment is that a control assembly 230 is a control rack 232, where the control rack 232 has a grip rod 232 a and a connection rod 232 b. The grip rod 232 a and the connection rod 232 b are connected in perpendicular, and one end of the connection rod 232 b that is not connected to the grip rod 232 a is inserted into the two retaining rings 122.

In detail, by using the control rack 232, the user can easy reach a balance when the user stands on the inflatable members 110. When the user repeatedly opens and closes the two legs, the back ends 116 of the two inflatable members 110 can repeatedly close to each other and separate from each other while taking the connection rod 232 b of the control rack 232 as a pivot.

Moreover, the grip rod 232 a can rotate while taking the connection rod 232 b as a rotation axis, and the aquaplane 200 further includes a rudder 240 connected to the connection rod 232 b. When the rudder 240 is used, the user can change a direction of the rudder 240 by turning the grip rod 232 a, so as to turn the aquaplane 200.

In summary, the aquaplane of the invention is a water entertainment product having an operation method different to that of the others. The user can operate the aquaplane in a standing manner, and when the user operates the aquaplane, not only a balance capability of the user is trained, the feet, thighs, calves and arms, etc. have to corporate to reach balance, so that not only an entertainment effect is achieved, an effect of physical exercise is achieved as well.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. In view of the foregoing, it is intended that the invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. An aquaplane, comprising: a pair of inflatable members, each having a leading end, a foot fixing portion and a back end, wherein the foot fixing portion is located between the leading end and the back end; a connection assembly, connected between the leading ends of the inflatable members, wherein the connection assembly is one of a combination of retaining rings and a bolt and a combination of retaining rings and a rope, where the retaining rings are overlapped to each other and the bolt is inserted into the retaining rings in the combination of the retaining rings and the bolt, and the rope is passed through the retaining rings to connect the retaining rings together in the combination of the retaining rings and the rope; and a control assembly, disposed on the pair of inflatable members, and located adjacent to the foot fixing portions.
 2. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the inflatable members has a long strip shape, the leading end of each of the inflatable members has a ¼ circular arc shape, and the back end of each of the inflatable members has a semicircular arc shape.
 3. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the inflatable members has a top surface, and the foot fixing portion sinks in the top surface.
 4. (canceled)
 5. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control assembly is a control rack having a grip rod and a connection rod when the connection assembly is the combination of the retaining rings and the bolt, the grip rod and the connection rod are connected in perpendicular, and one end of the connection rod that is not connected to the grip rod is inserted into the retaining rings to make the connection rod serving as the bolt.
 6. (canceled)
 7. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control assembly comprises: a pair of fixed pulleys, respectively disposed on the inflatable members, wherein each inflatable members is provided with one of the fixed pulleys thereon; and an assisting rope, penetrating through the fixed pulleys, wherein one end of the assisting rope is fixed on one of the inflatable members adjacent to the foot fixing portion, and the other end of the assisting rope is fixed on the other one of the inflatable members adjacent to the foot fixing portion.
 8. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of foot fixing pipes, respectively disposed on the inflatable members, and located on the foot fixing portions, wherein each inflatable members is provided with one of the foot fixing pipes thereon.
 9. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a pair of non-slip pads, respectively disposed on the inflatable members, and located on the foot fixing portions and adjacent to the foot fixing pipes, wherein each of the inflatable members is provided with one of the non-slip pads thereon.
 10. The aquaplane as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a pair of soft fins, respectively disposed on the back end of each of the inflatable members. 